Wire-covering machine



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- '41 3a =56 8 v T 3g 56 F 41 i 1 i INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

, present time, thetpresent invention relating WILLIAM E. COOK, OF ST. GEORGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PEERLESS INSULATED I CABLE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

WIRE-COVERING MACHINE.

Application filed November 29, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. 0001:, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at St. Geor in the borough ofRichmond, city of New ork, county of Richmondand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to wire covering machines, and more particularly to improvements in the typeof machine for applying an insulating body consisting of a strip of cotton sliver, spirally about a conducting wire while the wire is moving longitudinally thereof through the machine.

Machines of the general type to whichmy invention relates are in extensive use at the more particularly to an arran ement and construction of parts which wil permit the operation of the machine at much higher speeds I than has heretofore been possible, while ensuring a compactness of structure which will facilitate the mounting and removal of cans containing the sliver, and permit ready-access to the compacting head.

In a machine embodyin my invention, the ower is applied direct y to the spindle of t e compacting and winding head, which spindle is mounted in a stay frame extending transversely of the machine, in which frame the shaft of the main power pulley is also journaled. This construction is utilized as affording long bearingsfor said spindle, and permitting the utilization of the lower end of the spindle as a means of suspension for a light rigid metal carrier for the containers, thus so materially reducing the weight of the moving parts of the machine as to minimize the moving inertia of parts to an extent tofacilitate the operation of the machine at high speed while permitting a rapid stoppage of the machine in the event of the necessity for such action.

In machines of the type to which my invention relates, the wire is drawn through the machine at a uniform speed through the medium of a sheave about which the wire passes, a characteristic of the invention being a simple and rigid mechanism by which Serial No. 518,576.

said sheave will be actuated in synchronism w1th the covermg mechanism so' as to ensure substantial uniformity in the condition ofnot only ensures simultaneous stoppage of the compacting and winding head and said carrying frame, but prevents the racking of the machinej as a result of such stoppage, however infrequent.

The carrying frame itself is so constructed as to support the containers for the sliver with their axes disposed horizontally, which construction causes centrifugal action to hold the coils of sliver in position within the container and thus minimize likelihood of the entanglement thereof while the machine is in operation, and ensures the proper feeding movement of the strip so as to place no limitation upon the speed of the machine because .of the tendency of the sliver to become entangled. This characteristic of the machine is not broadly new to the machine of my present application, the novelty in which resides more particularly in that construction of the container-carrying frame which will permit the containers to be quickly mounted in and removed from said frame while ensuring against their displacement while the machine is in operation.

The invention consists primarily in a wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine havin vertical bearings therein, a hollow spin le mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die, the opening of which is in axial alinement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in bearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, means adapted to impart continuous traverse to a wire passing through said hollow s indle, and a container carrier suspended rom and rotatable with said spindie, consisting of a plurality of horizontally extending saddles adapted to receive a barrel container and engage the .outer end thereof; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 upon a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the counter shaft mechanism for transmitting power from the main power shaft to the wire feeding and rewind mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the brake mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the containercarrying frame with its uprights shown in section Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the base of the machine is shown at 1 and the side frames at 2 .and

3. Extending between and rigidly secured to said side frames is a cross frame 4 having therein vertical bearings 5 and 6 for the hollow spindle 7 which supports the compacting and winding head 8. This winding head includes therein a compacting die 9, the detailed construction of which is immaterial to the present invention and will therefore not be described in detail. In the cross frame 4 are horizontal bearings 10 and llfor the main power shaft 12.

The shaft 12 carries a pulley 13 through which power is applied thereto and is geared with the spindle 7 by means of the intermeshing bevelled gears 14 and 15 carried by said shaft and said spindle respectively. a

The gear 15 in addition to serving as a power applying means to the spindle 7 also serves as a thrust. bearingfor said spindle.

Mounted in hearings on the side frames 2 and 3 above the cross frame 4 is a shaft 16 carrying .a sheave'17 about which the covered wire is wound before passing to the rewind mechanism, which sheave is actuated in a manner to impart uniform lineal traverse to the wire at a desired speed to secure the proper spiral winding of the sliver upon the wire.

This sheave 17 is idly mounted upon the shaft 16 but is adapted to be connected thereto by a clutch mechanism 18.

The sheave 17 and the rewind mechanism .including the traverse mechanism are all driven fromthe shaft 12 through a mechanism which will now be described.

ment with the bearings 10 and 11 and'have mounted therein a, shaft 21. Said shaft 21 is connected with the shaft 16 by means of the sprocket wheels 22 and 23 and the cooperating sprocket chain 24, the wheel 23 being of greater diameter than the wheel 22, thus giving a speed reduction to the shaft 16 through this chain and sprocket shaft 12 and the gear 29 carried by the shaft 4 21. The gear 25 is of relatively larger diameter than the gear 28, the gears 26 and 29 being of the same diameter.

In this manner -a direct rigid drive from the power shaft 12 to the intermediate shaft 21 is secured with a material reduction of speed in the shafts 21 and 16 so as to cause the sheave 17 tohave the desired R. P. M. relative to the R. P. M. of the spindle 7 and the container-carrying frame for applying the covering sliver to the wire. a The lower end of the spindle 7 projects below the cross frame 4 and has secured thereto so as to be rotatable therewith, a circular plate 30, the edge of which serves as a'brake drum, and which is provided with bosses adapted to receive and retain the uprights 31 of the container-carryin frame, which is preferably made of meta l tubing so as to have this frame as lightas possible while imparting thereto sufiicient rigidity to ensure the maintenance of the proper position of each container with relation to the wire being covered.

The uprights 31 of said container-carrying frame are four in number rectangularly arranged and provided with horizontally extending stay tubes 32.

Connected to the lower endsjof said up rights 31 is an annular plate 33 secured to w ich are two pairs 34 and 35 of saddleforming tubes rectangular-1y arranged with relation to each other and having their ends connected by the rods 36 and 37 respectively.

The portions of the annulus 33 intermediate the tubes 34 and 35 respectively at diametrically opposite points, is segmentally formed and depressed as shown at 38 so that each barrel container 39 adjacent the open top thereof will seat upon a segmental or arcuate depressed portion. The portions of the tubes of each pair 34 and 35 within said annulus 33 are curved or formed downwardly a at- 4041 so as'to bring this portion at or below the plane occupied by the lowermost diameter of the several containers 39 while increasing the rigidity of the saddle structure.

Adjacent the rear of the machine is a shaft 42 upon which a rewind reel 43 is adapted to be idly mounted, this reel being adapted t ll to be connected with the shaft 42 by means of a crank 44 carrying a screw-threaded or other stud 45 adapted to enter a recess in one of the end plates of the reel 43, said crank 44 being secured by means of a set screw 46, or in any other desired manner, to said shaft 42 so as to rotate therewith.

Mounted in the side frame 3 adjacentand parallel with the shaft 42 is a shaft 47 carry ing a small pulley 48 connected by means of the belt 49 with a large pulley 50 carried by the shaft 16. By the employment of a belt and pulley connection between the hafts 16 and 47, slippage of said belt is permitted to compensate for the gradual increase in diameter of the wire as it is wound upon the. reel 43.

Carried by the shafts 42 and 47 respectively are the intermeshing gears 51 and 52 so as to ensure simultaneous rotation of the sheave 17 and reel 43 at a fixed speed ratio.

The shaft 47 is connected by means of the chain and sprocket mechanism 53 with the transverse mechanism 54 which mechanism being old. and well known in this art, requires no detailed description, its function being merely to impart a lateral feed to the wire as it is passing from the sheave 17 to the reel 43 in a manner to cause-it to wind properly upon the latter.

Carried by the frame 4 are brackets 55 which support a band brake 56, the band of which brake is connected with studs 57 acted upon .by springs 58 as shown to normally hold said brake band out of engagement with the drum 30.

One end of the brake band is secured to a fixed stud 59 and the other end thereof is secured to the shorter arm 60 of the hand lever 61 pivoted at '62 to the frame 4.

The spacing of the tubes 34 and 35 of each pair apart as shown has the two-fold effect of permitting the barrel containers to be quickly mounted in the supporting frame therefor and causing said containers to be held against displacement either from centrifugal force or atmospheric resistance, the bottom of said containers engaging the connecting end bars 36-37 while the portion thereof adjacent the open top will engage the stay tubes 32.

Adjacent the bottom of the machine is a guide pulley 63 about which the conductor wire 64- passes to the covering mechanism, one periphery of said pulley being in axial alinement with the opening in the spindle 7.

In Fig. 2 I have shown th end of one strip of sliver A drawn from the barrel container for same and aflixed to the wire as when starting a run of the machine.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows:-

In starting a run of the machine, the-wire is brought from any desired source, passed about the pulley 63 connected with a I rope or other strand which is threaded through the die 9 and spindle 7, and passed about the sheave 17. The clutch 18 of said sheave is used to disconnect it from the shaft 16 so as to permit the use of this sheave in drawing the endof the wire toward the spindle to a point where the ends of th sliver strips may be applied thereto. Urdinarily this wire is coated with an adhesive so as to ensure a permanent bond between the innermost ply of sliver of the wire.

After the ends of the sliver strips have been properly applied to the wire, the clutch 18 is set and power is applied to the machine through the shaft 12 and pulley 13. The rotation of said shaft 12 will, throu h the gears 14 and 15, rotat the spindle 7, t e

compacting' and winding head 8 and the die 9 thereof, and the container supporting frame, and will at the same time rotate the shaft 21 through the gears 25 and 26 and the counte shaft 27 so as to cause the chain and sprocket mechanism 2223-24 to rotate the shaft 16 and sheave 17, thus imparting lineal traverse to the wire through the medium of said sheave which gives the desired pitch to the sliver strips as a result of therotation of the barrels 39.

So long as the shaft 16 is rotated, the pulley 50 will rotate the shaft 47 through the belt 49 and pulley 48, thus simultaneously imparting rotary movement to the reel 43 and lateral movement to the traverse mechanism v54 through the chain and sprocket mechanism 53.

Extreme accuracy in the actuation of the rewind reel and of the traverse mechanism is unnecessary, slippage of the belt 49 occurring whenever the sheave 17 does not supply sufficient slack wire to permit the reel 43 to turn freely.

Binding strands are applied to the compactlng sliver upon the wire by means of the compacting and winding head 8 and 9.

The arrangement of the shafts 12 and 21 and the geared connection between said shaft as well as the geared connection between the shaft 12 and the spindle 7, will ensure positive actuation of these mechanisms with a uniform movement avoiding any of such sudden stops and starts aswould tend to attenuate or break the sliver, and ensuring a smooth uniform application of the sliver strips to the wire with the operation of the machine at a speed many fold greater than has heretofore been the practice, and without likelihood of a development of conditions within the machine which will result in breakage of the sliver.

While the container-supporting frame is very light in weight, the structure employed givesgreat rigidity thereto and the mounting and, removal of the barrel containers is greatly facilitated.

While the machine is operated at the highest speed, moving inertia developed in the container-supporting frame has not been found sufficientlyvgreat to interfere with the braking action upon the driving mechanism, nor to cause distortion of the frame as a result of sudden stoppage or starting of the machine.

' causes. The end rods 36-37 will check any tendency of an outward movement of .the

barrel containers as a result of centrifugal force due to the development of high speeds in the machine.

In mounting and removing the barrels from the machine, it is merely necessary to place the open top thereof beneath a cross. bar 32 by tilting the container, and drop the barrel between the pair of spaced tubes 34 or 35 and either bring the bottom thereof into engagement with a-rod 36 or. 37 or permit the barrel to adjust itself to this position while the machine is in operation.

It is of great importance with a high speed machine, that the axis of the barrel should be horizontally arranged, since under this condition the coils of sliver within the barrel as they are formed in delivering this sliver to the barrels from the carding machine, will not be disturbed by any conditions developed during a run of the machine at the higher speeds, thus permitting a free uncoiling of the sliver strip and a free running thereof from the container to the wire.

Heretofore in machines for applying sliv er strips to wires, utilizing barrel containers, the entanglement of the strip within the barrel has been a source of serious difficulties resulting in a material loss in the capacity of the machine, due to the tendency of the coiled sliver to pack as a result of the action of centrifugal force, since at the best this sliver while in the container is in a fluffy mass, which may be readily compacted and will thus have a tendency to move out wardly of the axis of rotation of the barrel. The sliverif delivered from the carding machine is coiled in a series of overlapping coils or convolutions and not about a single axis, so that any compaction of-the mass radially of the barrel will frequently result in the entanglement of different coils.

It is therefore apparent that if the pressures are axially of the barrel, there will be no tendency to close the coils or convolutions one upon the other, so that as the sliver is withdrawn it will uncoil freely.

It is apparent that the curved depressed portions 40 and 41 of thetubes 34 and 35 of each pair will give great rigidity to the container-supporting frame.

Having-described the invention, what I claim as. new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die, the opening of which is in axial alinement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in bearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, means adapted to impart continuous traverse to a wire passing through said hollow spindle, and a container carrier su ended from and rotatable with said spind e, consisting of a plurality of horizontally extending saddles adapted to receive a barrel container and engage the outer end thereof.

2. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die, the opening of which is in axial alinement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in bearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, a sheave about which a. wire passing through said hollow spindle passes, means imparting uniform angular speed to said sheave, consisting of a shaft mounted in said cross frame, speed reducing connections between said shaft and said sheave, and speed reducing gearing connecting said main power shaft with said last named shaft, and a container carrier suspended from and rotatable with said spindle, consisting of a plurality of horizontallyextending saddles adapted to receive a barrel container and engage the outer end thereof. 7

3. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die. the opening of which is in axial alinement with. said spindle. a main power shaft also mounted in bearings in said cross frame. geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, a sheave about which a wire passing through said hollow spindle passes, means imparting uniform angular speed to said sheave, consisting of a shaft mounted in said cross frame, speed reducing connections between said shaft and said sheave, ear wheels upon said main power shaft an said last named shaft respectively, the gear upon said main power shaft being of relatively smaller diameter than said other gear, a counter shaft, and gears thereon meshing respectively with the gears upon said main power shaft and said other shaft, whereby the R. P. M. of said sheave will be very much lower than the R. P. M. of

said spindle, and a container carrier suspended from and rotatable with said spindle, consistingdof a plurality of horizontally extending sa les adapted to receive a barrel container and engage the outer end; thereof.

4. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die, the opening of which is in axial ahnement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in hearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said ower shaft and said spindle, means adapte to impart continuous traverse to. a wire passing through said hollow spindle, 'a'-circular plate secured to said spindle below said cross frame, a plurality of pairs of uprights pendant from said frame, and horizontally extending saddles adapted to receive barrel containers for the sliver and engage the outer ends thereof. a

5. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearin s therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmountin said spindle and includin a die, the openmg of which is in axial almement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in hearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, means adapted to impart continuous traverse to a. wire passing through said hollow spindle, and a container carrier suspended from and rotatable with said spindle, consisting of an annular plate, two pairs of horizontally extending saddleforming members, the portion of said annulusintermediate the tubes of each pair being segmentall formed and depressed, and the portions 0 the tube of each pair within said annulus being curved and formed downwardly toa point below the plane of said annulus, the members of one pair extending at right angles to the members of the other pair and being spaced apart to receive therebetween the curved face of a barrel container, and a plate connecting the opposite ends of each pair of said members, whereby outward bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmountin said'spindle and including the openmg of which is in axial ahnement with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in bearings in said cross frame,

adie,

geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, means adapted to impart continuous traverse to a. wire passing through said hollow spindle, a circular plate secured to said spindle below said cross frame, a plurality of pairs of uprights pendant from said frame, an annular late carried by said uprights, two pairs 0 horizontally extending saddle-forming members, the portion of said anniilus intermediate the tubes of each pair being segmentally formed and depressed, and the portions of the tube of each pair within said annulus being curved and formed downwardly to a point below the plane of said annulus, the members of one pair extending at right angles to the members of the other pair and being spaced apart to receive therebetween the curved face of a barrel container, and a plate connecting; the opposite ends of each pair of said mem ers, whereby outward movement of the container, while the machine is in operation, is restrained, cross braces connected with said uprights and distant from said members so as to be adapted to engage the side of a barrel container therein.

7. A wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearin s therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die, the opening of which is in axial almeme'nt with said spindle, a main power shaft also mounted in hearings in said cross frame, geared connection between said power shaft and said spindle, means adapted to impart continuous traverse to a. wire passing through said hollow spindle, a circular plate secured to said spindle below said cross frame, a luralit of pairs of upri hts pendant from' said rame, horizontal y extendin saddles adapted to receive barrel containers for the silver and engage the outer ends thereof, a band brake operative upon the ed of said circular plate, and supports or the band of said brake carried by said cross frame.

' 8. A Wire covering machine embodying therein a cross frame intermediate the top and bottom of the machine having vertical bearings therein, a hollow spindle mounted in said bearings, a compacting head surmounting said spindle and including a die,

carried by said cross frame, studs carried by said band brake and extending through said supports, sprlngs actmg between sa1d 4 studs and said supports for normally hold- 10 saidv rewind mechanism are actuated from the same source of power and at relatively hi her speed than said sheave.

n witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 22nd day of No- 15 vember, 1921.

WILLIAM E. COOK.

Witnesses: F. T. WEN'I'WORTH, Fnmm KOEHLER. 

